Norman millington



NORMAN MILLINGTON, OF SHAFTSBURY, VERMONT.

Letters Patent No. 74,239, dated February 11, 1868.

IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINES FOR GRADUATING RULES.

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TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, NORMAN MILLINGTON, of Shaftsbury, in the county of Bennington, in the State of Vermont, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Graduating Rules and other measures; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof My invention is based on the machine vpatented by myself and D. J. George, dated August 8, 1854, and embraces important improvements in several portions of the mechanism. My improved4 machine is capable of being changed to graduate different rules with greater facility, and it performs the work with greater accuracy, and the lines are produced with more uniformity.

I will first describe what I consider the best means of carrying out my invention, and will aftewards designate the points which I believe to be new therein. 'lhe accompanying drawings form-a part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a side elevation, and

Figure 2 is a'plan view of the machine.

Figure 3 is a cross-section through a graver and tool-holder, of which it is to be understood there is a series, side by side, as indicated in red outlines, and

`Figure 4 is-a side elevation of some of the details, represented as broken oi, and detached from th other parts. u

`Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in all the figures where they occur.

Tints are employed merely to aid in distinguishing parts. The drawings represent the 4novel parts, with so much ofthe other parts as is necessary to indicate their relations thereto.

A is the fixed framing, and B is the shaft, by the continuous rotation of which all the mechanism is operl ated. The shaft' may be. driven by a belt, not represented, operating on the pulley indicated by b. C is a carriage, sliding in ways, a, and receiving a forward motion at each revolution of the shaft B, through the medium of the eccentric, B', the eccentric-strap D, the pin d, and the hinged arm Cl. This arm is mounted on the carriage C. by means of the bearings c, and lit allows for the up-and-down motion due to the revolution of the eccentric, B1. The pin d is adapted to slide freely in the hinged arm C1, so that the carriage C audits connections need not necessarily move backward to the extent required by the rotation of the eccentric, Bl. A spring, not represented, draws the carriage C and its connections backward with a nearly constant force. The revolution of the eccentric, B1, compels the carriage to move forward to a certain point at each revolution. It may move backito thefull extent of the motion of the eccentric Bl, orto a less extent, according as it is controlled by other portions of the mechanism. The carriage Q carries a series of gra-vers, which are adapted to cut a large number of lines on the rule at each forward movement. I

It will be understood that my improved machine, like the machine described in the previous patent referred to, cuts a number of marks or graduations simultaneously ori the rule, but all of the same kind; that is to say, when the half-inch marks are cut, all the gravers cut the lines adaptedto the `half-inch graduationsi When the next graduation is marked, supposing it to be the five-eighths or nine-sixteenths mark, the mark-s are again all of the same kind, but should all be shorter. The means whereby' I effect the variation in the length of the several kinds of marks Vallows the machine to be very rapidly changed and adapted for graduating different kinds of rules. Thus, I can readily change from graduating eighths to sixteeuths,` or to-tenthsor twelfths, or. anyrother desired fraction. E is a support, on which the rule isiirmly held by means of the ordinary springl "clamps, not represented. The rulc ,isquare, or other article thus held, is raised or depressed to a slight extent ut each movement, by the working of the support E ou the shaft e. G is a slide, carrying an inclined piece, y, which is adapted to act against the end of the shaft e, and to thrust it endwise, thusca'rryng the rule forward as the work progresses according-as the slide G g is thrust forward. This slide is movedforward after each cut by meansof the crank B2 on the end of the shaft B, which operates the lever H, and thus,'by means of the pin I andpawl J, acts on the ratchet K, which is mounted on the slide Gg, before described. L is a. detenta` attached to the fixed framing A by means ofthe pin l. At each revolution of the'shuft B, the pawl J takes hold -of a new notch in the ratchet K, and moves forward the said ratchet and the connected slide Gg, thus moving the rule. The detent L prevents the return of the slide. The piece K, on .which the ratchet is formed, is capable of being revolved on the screws c lc, and of presenting several diiferently-formed retchets, according u; se 2 as either face is turned upward. Thus, the face new .represented as uppermost will produce eight subdivisions; but if the piece K is turned one quarter of a revolution, it will present a differently-cut ratchet, and will pro duce twelve subdivisions in ,the inch or other unit on the rule. I have represented the piece Ii as having four ratchets thus produced. There maybe a greater or less number. In order to change thexratchet it is only necessary to slaclien one or both of the screws c 7c, and after turning the piece 1K to the required extent, again to tighten the screws to' hold it in that position. Instead of screws, these maybe conically-pointed pins or cylindrical journals, forming a part of the piece K, and a. spring-catch or other suitable mechanism may bc employed to hold the piece K in the required position, M is a-gauge-wheel, which is partially turned nt each revolution of the shaft B, and is adapted to prevent the return of the carriage U and its connections to the full `extent, when the short lines are to 4be cut.' This wheel is formed with a series ot' hearings, represented in the iigure'as projections. The'sevprojecticns are evenlyspaced, and correspond in number with the number-,of graduations in the inch. These bearings may, in practice, be conveniently made in separate pieces, and they may be htted as required. by inserting` the pieces in holes drilled or otherwise produced in the periphery of a Vplain wheel. They are presented in succession to check the back motion of the carriage C audits connections.

C2 is a rigid arm, projecting from the back side of the carriage C, and adapted to strike against these several projections or bearing-pieces, in succession, the work proceeds. N'is a controlling or count-wheel, mounted below the gauge-wheel M, and provided with pins or teeth on its upper surface, as indicated by. n. There is a connection between the count-wheel N and the gauge-wheel M, by means of acoiled spring, O', (see lig. 4.) This spring has suihcient rigidity to hold the gauge-wheel with certainty in the position corresponding to the countivhcel N, in the yabsence of any considerable.disturbing force. In changing the position ot' the gaugewheel the count-wheel N is liable to commence its rota-tion before the arm O2 on the carriage C leaves the gaugewheel M. In such case the spring O allows the gauge-wheel to remain stationary until the pressure from thecarriage is removed. It then revolves by the action of the spring O, compensating for the lost motion, and thenceforward turns with the count-wheel N until its proper position is attained, where it is allowedto rest until lthe next movement. The movement of the count-wheel, and consequently of the gauge-wheel M, is efected by means of the pawl I), vhung on the arm Q2 of the rock-shaft Q. This shaft is operated by means of `the arm Q1, which receives motion from the eccentric-strap D, through the connecting-rod or linlt` F. At each rotation of the shaft B, and consequently of the eccentric, B1, thc shaft Q is rocked, andthe pawl P turns the wheel N, and consequently the gauge-wheel M, a certain fraction of a revolution. This fraction should corre spend with the number of graduations required in theinch or other unit ,in the rule, and, consequently, shouldcorrespond with the number of teeth in that face of the revolving ratchet K which is then uppermost-and in use. The teeth n in the'count-wheel N may be changed at pleasure by inserting:r a diii'erent number in the dl'erentseries of holes in the wheel.

It will now be seen how the changing ofthe position ci' the revolving ratchet K, and the corresponding changes in the number and length of the projections in the gauge-wheel M and its connections, govern the number of graduations on the rule, and how these important elements in the machine can be very readily' changed as required. I may further remark that, by changing the inclination of the plane g on the slide G, the magnitude of the unit of measurement, or the entire range of motion of the support E, may be varied within wide limits,v while the motion ofthe slide Gr and 'all the other portions of the mechanism remains without change. Thus, for example, to change my machine from graduating the ordinary inch-rule divided into sixtecnths, so as to graduate the French rule with centimetresdivided into tenths, Ihave, after changing the spaces between the several gravers, simply to give a correspondingly.increased inclination to the piece g, so that the rule will be moved only a centimetro instead of an inch in performing a complete revolution of the gauge-wheel, and then turn the ratchet K, and change the gauge-wheel and the count-wheel so as to graduate tenths instead of sixteenths.

I will new explain the portion of the mechanism by which the rule and the gravers are heldnnd operated.

The forward edge ofthe support E is lifted at the proper intervals by means of a stout rock-shaft, R", and arms R5 R3 operated by a connection, R2, through the lever Rl, which latter is operatedl by the cam R on the shaftB. It is necessary that all these, parts, as also the -pin lr, which communicates the motion of the arm R5 to the support E, be very rigid, so that they shall not lspringand vary the extent to which `the rule is lifted. In the machine described in our former patent,a long lever extended from the shaft to thc rule, and it was objectionable on account of the diihculty of giving a suiicient rigidity. The shortness of the arms R5 R3 on my rock-shaft R4, allows the motion to be transmitted with very little elasticity, and' the strain on the connection Rz, being longitudinal instead of transverse, there is little diiiculty in getting a very rigid and reliable motion from the distant shaft. S is one of a series of levers adapted `to turn independently to a moderate extent on the cylindrical bar s, which is rigidly fixed on the carriage C. T are tool-holders, bolted to the forward ends ofthe levers S `by means of thc bolts Ul U2. yThe tool-holders T are adjustable relatively to the levers S by turning to a slight extent on the bolt U as a pivot; They are held in the desired position by tightening the bolt U2. It willnot usually be necessary to slot the parts in order to allow for all the adjustment which is required .in practice, it being only necessary to adjust sutliciently to compensate for any irregularity in the forging or in the grinding of thc gravers. V are the graviers. They are' made of triangular section, :1s represented, and each is very'iirmly held in its corresponding tool-holder, T, by means of a screwbolt, W, having a wedge-shaped head, as indicated in iig. 3. Slaclrening a nut, w, and lowering the corresponding bolt W`, liberates the graver, and the reverse proceeding tightens it. Each lever, S, and its connections, are held down to the work independently by means of 'a coiledv spring, X. Y is a hollow screw attached to the balancelever Z, and adapted to adjust the tension of each ot' the springs X independently of. its neighbors. There is a pin, a, `coming up from each lever S, in the interior of'its spiral spring X, to support and steady the same.. This pin is received in the interior of the hollow screw Y. The spring X may, by preference, act on a shoulder or enlargement near lower end of the pin as, and the pin may rest in a concave socket in the top of the lever S, instead of being fastened therein. The function of the balance-lever Z is the same asin other machines of this character, to

equalize the pressure and adapt the machine to engrave or graduate tapered squares as well asthose of even i thickness. The main portion of the pieces S and T may be of less width than an inch, ,but the forward ends should be exactly an inch wide in graduating ordinary rules. AThe back endsof these levers, where they take hold on thef cylindrical part S, are also to be of the same thickness, so that the whole series will mutually support each other. The holding of each bythe cylindrical' rod s a't the back end, and allowingeach to yield independently bythe means which I have invented, avoids. most of the difieulties due to the lost motion and the uncertainty of the action in the previous machines. Mywedge-headed bolt W, operating as represented, confines the gravers very firmly, and allows them to he released and'exchanged, and also draws them into a uniform position, while the adjustable connection of the tool-holder T to the lever'S allows for as4 much lateral adjustment as is ever required with this mechanism. Having new fully described my invention, what I claim as new in' machines for graduating substantially as specified, and desire to secure hy Letters Patent, is as follows: v

1. I claim the changeable ratehet'K, arranged and operating substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth. l

2. I claim the gauge-wheel M, arranged and operating relatively to the carriage C and its connections, substantially as and for the purpose herein specified.

3. I claim the count-wheel N, having changeable pinscombined and arranged to operaterelutively to the gauge-wheel M, the graver-carriage C, and to the operating-pawl P, all substantially :is-and` for the purposeV herein specified.

4. I claim the spring O, arranged and operating relatively to the count-wheel N, the gauge-wheel M, and

to the carriage C, or equivalent part, and themotion'of which is controlled by the gauge-wheel, all substantia-ily as and for the purpose herein specified.

5. I claim the pin d on the eccentric-strap D, sliding in the hinged'arm G1 of the graver-carriagejC, in combination with the gauging means M, or its equivalent, adapted to allow the carriage to retreat different distances, all substantially as herein set forth. l

6. I claim the levers S, mounted and arrangedas represented, adapted to support each other by direct vcontact both at the front und rear, and allowing the tool-holders T to be adjusted laterally thereon, substitue tially as herein speciied.

7. I claim thev spring X, pin x, and hollow adjusting-screw Y, or its equivalent, arranged and operating relatively to the lever S, and its connections turning on the cylindrical rod s, substantially `in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth. I i I 8'. I claim lifting and holding the rule in the path of the gravers by means of the short-armed rock-shaft R3 R R5, and its connections, constructed, arranged, and operating as and for the purpose herein set forth.

9. I claim` the wedge-headed bolt W, operating as represented, relatively to the triangular graver V, and with the tool-holder T, and its connections, mounted and arranged in the machine, substantially as and for the purpose` herein specified.

Y NORMAN MILLINGTON Witnesses:

' W. C.' DEY,

FRANK A. HADICKE. 

